System and method for closed-circuit television file archival and compression

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for compressing and decompressing video files is provided. The system includes a digital recording device configured to transfer a digital video feed to a computing device. The system further includes the computing device, wherein the computing device includes a graphical user interface, a processor, and a computer readable non-transitory storage medium for tangibly storing thereon machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of accessing the digital video feed, extracting a series of image files from the digital video feed, organizing image files from the series of image files into a grouping of image files, compressing the grouping of image files into a singular compressed file, decompressing the singular compressed file, extracting the number of image files from the decompressed file, and organizing the extracted number of image files into a playable video file.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a United States non-provisional application andclaims priority to U.S. Provision Patent Application No. 62/466,568,filed Mar. 3, 2017, and herein incorporated by referenced in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

This field of embodiments relates to video compression and, inparticular, to a system and method for closed-circuit television filearchival and compression.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Digital recording devices have long been used as security cameras andhave, in recent times, also become standard personal recordingtechnology. To store media saved using digital recording devices,companies and individuals must possess enough storage capacity to storeall of the files recorded using these devices.

Regarding security cameras and other similar monitoring cameras, theamount of storage needed to save video data files increases asresolution increases and the length of the video increases. An efficientand user-friendly method of decreasing the amount of storage needed tostore data files recorded using digital recording devices, with theability to easily access and play back the files, is thus needed.

Examples of related art are described below:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,008 generally describes a linescan camera is used inconjunction with a mechanical scanning mechanism to acquirehigh-resolution images of an area under video surveillance. The videosignal from the linescan camera is converted into a digital data stream,compressed, and stored in a digital memory. Under control of anoperator, full-field images are selectively recalled from the digitalmemory and converted to a lower resolution for display on a monitor. Theoperator selects a region-of-interest from the full-field displaythrough the use of a computer pointing device, such as a mouse. Theselected area is then displayed on the monitor in its full acquiredresolution, thereby allowing the operator to view high-resolution imagesof a large area under surveillance.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,649,938 generally describes an apparatus, a method, anda software product to control a plurality of surveillance videocamera/encoder combinations. The method includes receiving a pluralityof encoded video streams from a respective surveillance camera/encodercombination, and accepting a measure of the level of activity for eachencoded video stream. Each measure is obtained from the output of thecamera of the corresponding camera/encoder combination. The methodfurther includes assigning output bit rates for each encoded streamaccording to the accepted level of activity such that a maximum overallbit rate is not exceeded. One version is for controlling camera/encodercombinations that accept remote bit rate control, and a second is forcontrolling camera/encoder combinations that send at a pre-set bit rate.One version includes a network connection between the camera/encodercombinations, and the method or apparatus for central control.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,907,665 generally describes an apparatus generallycomprising an input circuit, a storage circuit and an output circuit.The input circuit may be configured to generate a first intermediatesignal from a plurality of input video signals. The storage circuit maybe configured to (i) organize the first intermediate signal into aplurality of sequences each related to one of the input video signalsand (ii) generate a second intermediate signal from the sequences. Theoutput circuit may be configured to generate an output video signal bycompressing the second intermediate signal.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,755,837 generally relates to cell phones and otherportable devices equipped with a variety of technologies. Some aspectsrelate to data driven imaging architectures, in which a cell phone'simage sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act onpacketized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery.Other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between thedevice and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing,such as filtering and edge detection and even some simpler templatematching, operations—may be performed on the cell phone. Otheroperations are referred out to remote service providers. The remoteservice providers can be identified using techniques such as a reverseauction, though which they compete for processing tasks. Other aspectsof the disclosed technologies relate to visual search capabilities, anddetermining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs.Still others concern metadata generation, processing, andrepresentation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitationsof cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Stillothers concern user interface improvements. A great number of otherfeatures and arrangements are also detailed.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,896,694 generally describes a wearable digital videocamera equipped with wireless connection protocol and global navigationand location positioning system technology to provide remote imageacquisition control and viewing. The Bluetooth® packet-based openwireless technology standard protocol is preferred for use in providing,control signals or streaming data to the digital video camera and foraccessing image content stored on or streaming from the digital videocamera. The UPS technology is preferred for use in tracking of thelocation of the digital video camera as it records image information. Arotating mount with a locking member on the camera housing allowsadjustment of the pointing angle of the wearable digital video camerawhen it is attached to a mounting surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,953,044 generally describes a video-based analysissystem that detects, tracks and archives vehicles in video stream dataat multiple resolutions. The system includes an image capturing devicethat captures video stream data having video at a fist high resolution.A vehicle detection module detects at least one vehicle within thevideo. A vehicle analysis module is configured to analyze the video andto extract one or more key vehicle features from the video to enableidentification of a vehicle of interest (VOI) according to a set ofpredetermined criteria. A subsampling module creates a reducedresolution video stream in a second subsampled resolution that is lowerthan the first high resolution while maintaining the one or moreextracted key features within the reduced resolution video stream in thefirst high resolution, and archives the reduced resolution video streaminto a video database.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,204,038 generally describes cell phones and otherportable devices equipped with a variety of technologies. Some aspectsrelate to imaging architectures, in which a cell phone's image sensor isone in a chain of stages that successively act on instructions/data, tocapture and later process imagery. Other aspects relate to distributionof processing tasks between the device and remote resources (“thecloud”). Elemental image processing, such as filtering and edgedetection and even some simpler template matching operations may beperformed on the cell phone. Other operations are referred out to remoteservice providers. The remote service providers can be identified usingtechniques such as a reverse auction, through which they compete forprocessing tasks. Other aspects of the disclosed technologies relate tovisual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actionsresponsive to different image inputs. Still others concern metadatageneration, processing, and representation. A great number of otherfeatures and arrangements are also detailed.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,330,722 generally describes a system and method forediting and parsing compressed digital information. The compresseddigital information may include visual information which is edited andparsed in the compressed domain. In a preferred embodiment, the presentinvention provides a method for detecting moving objects in a compresseddigital bitstream which represents a sequence of fields or frames ofvideo information for one or more captured scenes of video.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0068583 generally describes an imagecollection, distribution and management system employs wherein multiplecompression at the source, permitting various signals to be distributedvia a network, depending on the functional aspects of the signal, aswell as on the bandwidth capacity of the chosen distribution path ornetwork. Enhanced decompression schemes in the receiving systems furtherimprove the overall efficiency and quality of the transmitted signals.Time stamps are appended to each discrete file to facilitatereproduction of the individual files in the sequence. Further, whentransmission of the file through typical communications networksinvolves significant and variable delay in transmission, the time stampsprovide a means for the reproducing device to display each individualfile in correct temporal sequence. The time stamp represents the time atwhich the file was captured, as measured by a suitable time base insidethe source. This time base may be provided by the source operatingsystem. Alternatively, the time stamp may be derived from a runningcount of the incoming frames from the source. The system also supportscommunications networks having widely differing, non-interoperableprotocols. This expands the utility of these disparate networks as mediafor conveying compressed file sequences.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0179600 generally describes anapparatus generally comprising an input circuit, a storage circuit andan output circuit. The input circuit may be configured to generate afirst intermediate signal from a plurality of input video signals. Thestorage circuit may be configured to (i) organize the first intermediatesignal into a plurality of sequences each related to one of the inputvideo signals and (ii) generate a second intermediate signal from thesequences. The output circuit may be configured to generate an outputvideo signal by compressing the second intermediate signal.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2011/0115914 generally describes a eal-timeEvent Processing System (EPS) for processing a sequence of eventsgenerated by one or more pieces of hardware. The Event Processorcollects data generated by the several transducers or appliances as theycommunicate with the server platform to indicate user activity of theattached hardware. As a packet data is received from one of theappliances, the data is date and time stamped and stored in anticipationof the next data event to which it can be paired or compared with.Stored event data is compared to a template of normalized data resultsto see if the event data was normal or abnormal. If the event data ascompared was normal, no action is taken beyond storing said data. If thestored data is determined to be outside the pre-determined orpre-assigned data range, then a video camera captures the user activityjust proceeding, during, and subsequent to the event for a shortduration (such as a 1 minute duration), such that the stored video canlater he viewed and interrogated to determine what actions) caused theunacceptable event.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2013/0088600 generally describes avideo-based analysis system that detects, tracks and archives vehiclesin video stream data at multiple resolutions. The system includes animage capturing device that captures video stream data having video at afirst high resolution. A vehicle detection module detects at least onevehicle within the video. A vehicle analysis module is configured toanalyze the video and to extract one or more key vehicle features fromthe video to enable identification of a vehicle of interest (VOI)according to a set of predetermined criteria. A subsampling modulecreates a reduced resolution video stream in a second subsampledresolution that is lower than the first high resolution whilemaintaining the one or more extracted key features within the reducedresolution video stream in the first high resolution, and archives thereduced resolution video stream into a video database.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2015/0271453 generally describes ImagingSystem for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) the combines multiple camerasin one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer up to360-degree, 240-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other fields ofview and resolutions are also possible.) Image-stitching software mergesmultiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators totag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound analert when intruders breach them.

Chinese Patent Publication No. CN105844416A generally describes acomprehensive data management system for substation equipment failuredefect for analysis, including integrated information knowledge base,intelligent data processing module, intelligent diagnostic module.Comprehensive information in a repository of various equipment faultdefect diagnosis rule base, and related equipment Information, test dataand historical site detection diagnostic procedures resulting in theestablishment of the case base, China Unicorn journal articles,standards, electricity results, expert database, etc. database anddevice status evaluation system, provide cross-platform integratedinformation retrieval interfaces; intelligent data processing module foron-site detection of data classification, compression, conversion andother processing, easy retrieval and browsing; intelligent diagnosismodule depth learning algorithm based on the establishment for equipmentoperation and detection information identification and diagnosis, thepreliminary judging device failure types, and the type of fault throughthe device and automatically retrieve and match experts call via a datanetwork specialist to enter the diagnostic platform.

European Patent Publication No. EP1453311A2 generally describes aflexible video information storage and analysis apparatus stores a videoinformation data base and a plurality of moving image content analysisalgorithms for analyzing the video information in the data base. A usercan manipulate a mouse to select one of the analysis algorithms. Theselected algorithm is used to analyze video information in the database. The apparatus records and displays plural streams of videoinformation. Content analysis algorithms may be downloaded from a remotelocation. The apparatus takes appropriate actions in response todetected features in incoming video streams. Tile-basedconditional-refresh video data compression is employed. A supportstructure efficiently supports several record-medium drive units. A tapeback-up drive serves as an archiving mechanism for video data stored onhard disks. Recording of incoming video, and archiving and displaying ofstored video, all proceed simultaneously.

South Korean Patent Publication No. KR1020160136467A generally describesmobile phones and other portable devices equipped with a variety oftechnologies. Some aspects relate to visual search capabilities, anddetermining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs.Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadatageneration, processing, and representation. Yet others concern userinterface improvements. Other aspects relate to imaging architectures,in which a mobile phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages thatsuccessively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and laterprocess imagery. Still other aspects relate to distribution ofprocessing tasks between the mobile device and remote resources (“thecloud”). Elemental image processing (e.g., simple filtering and edgedetection) can be performed on the mobile phone, while other operationscan be referred out to remote service providers. The remote serviceproviders can be selected using techniques such as reverse auctions,through which they compete for processing tasks. A great number of otherfeatures and arrangements are also detailed.

International Patent Publication No. WO9819450A2 generally describes aflexible video information storage and analysis apparatus that stores avideo information data base and a plurality of moving image contentanalysis algorithms for analyzing the video information in the database. A user can manipulate a mouse to select one of the analysisalgorithms. The selected algorithm is used to analyze video informationin the data base. The apparatus records and displays plural streams ofvideo information. Content analysis algorithms rim, downloaded from aremote location. The apparatus takes appropriate actions in response todetected features in incoming video streams. Tile-basedconditional-refresh video data compression is employed. A supportstructure efficiently supports several record-medium drive units. A tapeback-up drive serves as an archiving mechanism for video data stored onhard disks. Recording of incoming video, and archiving and displaying ofstored video, all proceed simultaneously.

International Patent Publication No. WO2017008125A1 generally describesa machine-implemented method of packing volumetric image data executedby at least one processing device, the method comprising: determining afirst block size; writing to memory a first block of image data from afirst image, the first block having the first block size; determining asecond block size; and writing to memory a second block of image datafrom a second image, the second block having the second block size;wherein the first image contains X by Y pixels of one of color data anddepth data, and the second image contains X by Y pixels of the other ofcolor and depth data; and wherein the first image is related to thesecond image. Embodiments also relate to methods of unpacking volumetricimage data. Further embodiments relate to systems and computer-readablemedia storing or having access to code to execute the packing andunpacking methods.

None of the art described above addresses all of the issues that thepresent invention does.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

According to one aspect of the present invention, a system forcompressing and decompressing video files is provided. The systemincludes a digital recording device configured to transfer a digitalvideo feed to a computing device. The system further includes thecomputing device, wherein the computing device includes a graphical userinterface, a processor, and a computer readable non-transitory storagemedium for tangibly storing thereon machine readable instructions, themachine readable instructions when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to perform the steps of accessing the digital video feed,extracting a series of image files from the digital video feed,organizing a number of image files from the series of image files into agrouping of image files, compressing the grouping of image files into asingular compressed file, decompressing the singular compressed file,creating a decompressed file, extracting the number of image files fromthe decompressed file, and organizing the extracted number of imagefiles into a playable video file.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forcompressing and decompressing video files is provided. The methodincludes recording, using a digital recording device, a digital videofeed, transferring the digital video feed to a server, accessing, usinga processor coupled to the server, the digital video feed, extracting,using the processor, a series of image files from the digital videofeed, organizing a number of image files from the series of image filesinto a grouping of image files, and compressing, using the processor,the grouping of image files into a singular compressed file. The methodfurther includes decompressing, using the processor, the singularcompressed file, thus creating a decompressed file, extracting thenumber of image files from the decompressed file, and organizing theextracted number of image files into a playable video file.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, whereinthe machine readable instructions when executed by the processor, causethe processor to further perform the steps of creating a file indexdatabase, and organizing the series of image files from the digitalvideo feed within the file index database.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, whereinthe computing device uses a Lempel-Ziv-Markov chain algorithm 2. (LZMA2)compression method.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, whereinthe graphical user interface is configured to enable a user to select afile type for the series of image files.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, whereinthe graphical user interface is configured to enable a user to edit thedigital video feed using criteria selected from the group consisting ofimage quality, image resolution, and frames per second.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, whereinthe grouping of image files constitutes a number of images correspondingto approximately five minutes of the digital video feed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, whereinthe machine readable instructions when executed by the processor, causethe processor to further perform the step of archiving the singularcompressed file in a database located on a server.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, thereinthe server is remote from the computing device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, whereinthe digital video feed is a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) feed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the system, whereinthe machine readable instructions when executed by the processor, causethe processor to further perform the step of playing, on the graphicaluser interface, the playable video file from the extracted number ofimage files.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 show a flowchart of a method of closed-circuit television(CCTV) file archival and compression, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method of CCTV client-side decompression,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a system for CCTV file archival,compression, and decompression, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the variousfigures are identified with the same reference numerals.

Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the presentinvention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of thepresent invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact,those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading thepresent specification and viewing the present drawings that variousmodifications and variations can be made thereto.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, a method 100 of closed-circuit television(CCTV) file archival and compression is illustratively depicted, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

At step 105, a camera or other suitable recording device records data.(e.g., audio, video, etc.). According to an embodiment, the recordingdevice may be, e.g., a digital video recorder, a network video recorder,an Internet Protocol (IP) camera, etc. According to an embodiment, therecording device has the capability to transmit a Real Time StreamingProtocol (RTSP) feed to a server. According to an embodiment, therecording device has the capability of transmitting one or morepre-recorded files to a server.

At step 110, the recording device transmits a RTSP feed to a server.According to an embodiment, the server is a Windows-based personalcomputer (PC) that includes relevant file archival and compressionsoftware. According to an embodiment, the software receives the incomingRTSP feed.

At step 115, the incoming RTSP feed is converted into one or more imagefiles using the software. According to an embodiment, the image filesare beg files, pig files, and/or any other suitable image file type.According to an embodiment, a user selects the image file type intowhich the RTSP feed is to be converted. According to an embodiment, ifthe feed is of a video file, the video is separated into a series offrames, wherein each frame is converted into an image file. According toan embodiment, a user is able to set the number of frames per secondinto which the video file is to he separated.

At step 120, a file index database is created. According to anembodiment, the file index database includes all of the individual imagefiles that need to be processed, compressed, and archived using thesoftware.

At step 125, the file index database is searched for any image filesthat are to be processed by the software. According to an embodiment,processing may include reducing the resolution size of the individualimages, altering the frames per second of the input video (if the inputis a video), altering the image quality of the individual images,cropping the individual images, and/or any other suitable processingtechniques that are in conformity with the spirit of the presentinvention.

At step 130, images are grouped together and compressed. According to anembodiment, if enough images are available, the images are grouped intogroupings of images that collectively create approximately five minutesworth of video. According to an embodiment, the images are compressedusing Lempel-Ziv-Markov chain algorithm 2 (LZMA2) compression method. Itis noted, however, that other suitable file compression methods may alsobe used while maintaining the spirit of the present invention.

At step 135, after the images to he compressed have been successfullycompressed, the compressed image files are saved as a single file,having a singular file extension. According to an embodiment, the singlefile has a “pro” file extension. It is noted, however, that othersuitable file extensions may also he used, while maintaining the spiritof the present invention.

At step 140, the compressed file is sent to a server for archival.According to an embodiment, the file is sent to a hard drive inside theserver. According to another embodiment, the file is sent to an offsiteserver.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a method 200 of CCTV client-side decompressionis illustratively depicted, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Once the files are compressed and archived according to the method 100describes in FIGS. 1-2, the files can once against be played backfollowing a decompression method 200. Once decompressed, a user iscapable of playing back the reconstructed video. According to anembodiment, the reconstructed video is of approximately the same qualityas the series of image files prior to compression at step 130.

As step 205, the archive of compressed data files is accessed by thesoftware. The archive is searched, at step 210, for one or moreparticular archived compressed tiles. According to an embodiment, thesearch includes a date and/or time search. It is noted, however, thatother types of searches may also be performed.

At step 215, one or more searched-for files, once located, is accessedby the software. The accessed file (or files) is then decompressed, atstep 220. According to an embodiment, software uses a LZMA2decompression method. It is noted, however, that other methods ofdecompression may also be used while maintaining the spirit of thepresent invention.

At step 225, if the original file contained one or more images, theimages are extracted from the decompressed file. At step 230, theextracted images are organized into a playable video file. At step 235,the playable video file is played back in a sequence, enabling a user tovideo the reconstituted video tile. According to an embodiment, thereconstituted video file is played to the user on a graphical userinterface.

According to an embodiment, the software includes a graphical userinterface that enables a user access video and image files prior toand/or after compression and/or decompression. According to anembodiment, the graphical user interface enables a user to edit videoand/or image and/or audio files prior to compression and/ordecompression.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of a system 300 for CCTV filearchival, compression, and decompression is illustratively depicted, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment, the system 300 includes a digital recordingdevice 305, a computing device 310, and a display 325.

The digital recording device 305 is coupled to the computing device 310and is configured to transfer a digital video feed to the computingdevice 310. The digital recording device 305 may be coupled to thecomputing device 310 either wirelessly or through a wireless connection.

According to an embodiment, one or more computing devices 310 may heused, wherein each of the one or more computing devices 310 performs oneor more of the steps described in FIGS. 1-3. According to an embodiment,each computing device 310 includes one or more processors 315.

According to an embodiment, the computing device 310 includes at leastone processor 315 and at least one storage medium 320. The computingdevice 310 may include a graphical user interface (which may beincorporated into display 325) and/or a graphical user interface may becoupled to the computing device 310. According to an embodiment, thecomputing device 310 includes a computer readable non-transitory storagemedium 320 for tangibly storing thereon machine readable instructions.According to an embodiment, the machine readable instructions, whenexecuted by the processor 315, cause the processor 315 to perform any orall of the steps described in the methods shown in FIGS. 1-3.

According to an embodiment, the digital recording device 305 recordsdata (e.g., audio, video, etc.). According to an embodiment the digitalrecording device 305 may be, e.g., a digital video recorder, a networkvideo recorder, an IP camera, etc. According to an embodiment, thedigital recording device 305 has the capability to transmit a RTSP feedto a server, which may include the computing device 310 or a remoteserver 330. The remote server 330 may be coupled to the computing device310 either wirelessly or through a wired connection.

According to an embodiment, the server is the computing device and is aWindows-based PC that includes relevant file archival and compressionsoftware. According to an embodiment, the software receives the incomingRTSP feed.

According to an embodiment, the storage medium 320 is configured tostore one or more files and/or folders that includes, but is not limitedto, the original digital video feed, file index database (including theindividual image files stored in the file index database), the archivedcompressed files, the decompressed files, the reconstituted video files,software designed to enable the processor 315 to perform any or all ofthe steps shown in FIGS. 1-3, etc.

Systems, Devices and Operating Systems

Typically, a user or users, which may be people or groups of usersand/or other systems, may engage information technology systems (e.g.,computers) to facilitate operation of the system and informationprocessing. In turn, computers employ processors to process informationand such processors may be referred to as central processing units(CPU). One form of processor is referred to as a microprocessor. CPUsuse communicative circuits to pass binary encoded signals acting asinstructions to enable various operations. These instructions may beoperational and/or data instructions containing and, or referencingother instructions and data in various processor accessible and operableareas of memory (e.g., registers, cache memory, random access memory,etc.). Such communicative instructions may be stored and/or transmittedin batches (e.g., batches of instructions) as programs and/or datacomponents to facilitate desired operations. These stored instructioncodes, e.g., programs, may engage the CPU circuit components and othermotherboard and/or system components to perform desired operations. Onetype of program is a computer operating system, which, may be executedby CPU on a computer; the operating system enables and facilitates usersto access and operate computer information technology and resources.Some resources that may be employed in information technology systemsinclude: input and output mechanisms through which data may pass intoand out of a computer; memory storage into which data may be saved; andprocessors by which information be processed. These informationtechnology systems may be used to collect data for later retrieval,analysis, and manipulation, which may be facilitated through a databaseprogram. These information technology systems provide interfaces thatallow users to access and operate various system components.

In one embodiment, the present invention may be connected to and/orcommunicate with entities such as, but not limited to: one or more usersfrom user input devices; peripheral devices; an optional cryptographicprocessor device; and a communications network. For example, the presentinvention may be connected to and/or communicate with users, operatingclient device(s), including, but riot limited to, personal computer(s),server(s) and/or various mobile device(s) including, but not limited to,cellular telephone(s), smartphone(s) (e.g., iPhone®, Blackberry®,Android OS-based phones etc.), tablet computer(s) (e.g., Apple iPad™, HPSlate™, Motorola Xoom™, etc.), eBook reader(s) (e.g., Amazon Kindle™,Barnes and Noble's Nook™ eReader, etc.) laptop computer(s) notebook(s),netbook(s), gaming console(s) (e.g., XBOX Live™, Nintendo® DS, SonyPlayStation® Portable, etc.), portable scanner(s) and/or the like.

Networks are commonly thought to comprise the interconnection andinteroperation of clients, servers, and intermediary nodes in a graphtopology. It should be noted that the term “server” as used throughoutthis application refers generally to a computer, other device, program,or combination thereof that processes and responds to the requests ofremote users across a communications network. Servers serve theirinformation to requesting “clients.” The term “client” as used hereinrefers generally to a computer, program, other device, user and/orcombination thereof that is capable of processing and making requestsand obtaining and processing any responses from servers across acommunications network. A computer, other device, program, orcombination thereof that facilitates, processes information andrequests, and/or furthers the passage of information from a source userto a destination user is commonly referred to as a “node.” Networks aregenerally thought to facilitate the transfer of information from sourcepoints to destinations. A node specifically tasked with furthering thepassage of information from a source to a destination is commonly calleda “router.” There are many forms of networks such as Local Area Networks(LANs), Pico networks, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Wireless Networks(WLANs), etc. For example, the Internet is generally accepted as beingan interconnection of a multitude of networks whereby remote clients andservers may access and intemperate with one another.

The present invention may be based on computer systems that maycomprise, but are not limited to, components such as: a computersystemization connected to memory.

Computer Systemization

A computer systemization may comprise a clock, central processing unit(“CPU(s)” and/or “processor(s)” (these terms are used interchangeablethroughout the disclosure unless noted to the contrary)), a memory(e.g., a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc.),and/or an interface bus, and most frequently, although not necessarilyare all interconnected and/or communicating through a system bus on oneor more (mother)board(s) having conductive and/or otherwise transportivecircuit pathways through which instructions (e.g., binary encoded:signals) may travel to effect communications, operations, storage, etc.Optionally, the computer systemization may be connected to an internalpower source; e.g., optionally the power source may be internal.Optionally, a cryptographic processor and/or transceivers (e.g., ICs)may be connected to the system bus. In another embodiment, thecryptographic processor and/or transceivers may be connected as eitherinternal and/or external peripheral devices via the interface bus I/O.In turn, the transceivers may be connected to antenna(s), therebyeffectuating wireless transmission and reception of variouscommunication and/or sensor protocols; for example the antenna(s) mayconnect to: a Texas Instruments WiLink WL1283 transceiver chip (e.g.,providing 802.11n. Bluetooth 3.0, FM, global positioning system (GPS)(thereby allowing the controller of the present invention to determineits location)); Broadcom BCM4329FKUBG transceiver chip (e.g., providing802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, FM, etc.); a Broadcom BCM4750IUB8 receiverchip (e.g., GPS); an Infineon Technologies X-Gold 618-PMB9800 (e.g.,providing 2G/3G HSDPA/HSUPA communications); and/or the like. The systemclock typically has a crystal oscillator and generates a base signalthrough the computer systemization's circuit pathways. The clock istypically coupled to the system bus and various clock multipliers thatwill increase or decrease the base operating frequency for othercomponents interconnected in the computer systemization. The clock andvarious components in a computer systemization drive signals embodyinginformation throughout the system. Such transmission and reception ofinstructions embodying information throughout a computer systemizationmay be commonly referred to as communications. These communicativeinstructions may further be transmitted, received, and the cause ofreturn and/or reply communications beyond the instant computersystemization to: communications networks, input devices, other computersystemizations, peripheral devices, and/or the like. Of course, any ofthe above components may be connected directly to one another, connectedto the CPU, and/or organized in numerous variations employed asexemplified by various computer systems.

The CPU comprises at least one high-speed data processor adequate toexecute program components for executing user and/or system-generatedrequests. Often, the processors themselves will incorporate variousspecialized processing units, such as, but not limited to: integratedsystem (bus) controllers, memory management control units, floatingpoint units, and even specialized processing sub-units like graphicsprocessing units, digital signal processing units, and/or the like.Additionally, processors may include internal fast access addressablememory, and be capable of mapping and addressing memory beyond theprocessor itself internal memory may include, but is not limited to:fast registers, various levels of cache memory (e.g., level 1, 2, 3,etc.), RAM, etc. The processor may access this memory through the use ofa memory address space that is accessible via instruction address, whichthe processor can construct and decode allowing it to access a circuitpath to a specific memory address space having a memory state. The CPUmay be a microprocessor such as: AMD's Athlon, Duron and/or Opteron;ARM's application, embedded and secure processors; IBM and/or Motorola'sDragonBall and PowerPC; IBM's and Sony's Cell processor; Intel'sCeleron, Core (2) Duo, Itanium, Pentium, Xeon, and/or XScale; and/or thelike processor(s). The CPU interacts with memory through instructionpassing through conductive and/or transportive conduits (e.g., (printed)electronic and/or optic circuits) to execute stored instructions (i.e.,program code) according to conventional data processing techniques. Suchinstruction passing facilitates communication within the presentinvention and beyond through various interfaces. Should processingrequirements dictate a greater amount speed and/or capacity, distributedprocessors (e.g., Distributed embodiments of the present invention),mainframe, multi-core, parallel, and/or super-computer architectures maysimilarly be employed. Alternatively, should deployment requirementsdictate greater portability, smaller Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)may be employed.

Depending on the particular implementation, features of the presentinvention may be achieved by implementing a microcontroller such asCAST's R8051XC2 microcontroller; Inters MCS 51 (i.e., 8051microcontroller); and/or the like. Also, to implement certain featuresof the various embodiments, some feature implementations may rely onembedded components, such as: Application-Specific Integrated Circuit(“ASIC”), Digital Signal Processing (“DSP”), Field Programmable GateArray (“FPGA”) and/or the like embedded technology. For example, any ofthe component collection (distributed or otherwise) and/or features ofthe present invention may be implemented via the microprocessor and/orvia embedded components; e.g., via. ASIC, coprocessor, DSP, FPGA, and/orthe like. Alternately, some implementations of the present invention maybe implemented with embedded components that are configured and used toachieve a variety of features or signal processing.

Depending on the particular implementation, the embedded components mayinclude software solutions, hardware solutions, and/or some combinationof both hardware/software solutions. For example, features of thepresent invention discussed herein may be achieved through implementingFPGAs, which are a semiconductor devices containing programmable logiccomponents called “logic blocks” and programmable interconnects, such asthe high performance FPGA Virtex series and/or the low cost Spartanseries manufactured by Xilinx. Logic blocks and interconnects can beprogrammed by the customer or designer, after the FPGA is manufactured,to implement any of the features of the present invention. A hierarchyof programmable interconnects allow logic blocks to be interconnected asneeded by the system designer/administrator of the present invention,somewhat like a one-Chip programmable breadboard. An FPGA's logic blockscan be programmed to perform the function of basic logic gates such asAND, and XOR, or more complex combinational functions such as decodersor simple mathematical functions. In most FPGAs, the logic blocks alsoinclude memory elements, which may be simple flip-flops or more completeblocks of memory. In some circumstances, the present invention may bedeveloped on regular FPGAs and then migrated into a fixed version thatmore resembles ASIC implementations. Alternate or coordinatingimplementations may migrate features of the controller of the presentinvention to a final ASIC instead of or in addition to FPGAs. Dependingon the implementation all of the aforementioned embedded components andmicroprocessors may be considered the “CPU” and/or “processor” for thepresent invention.

Power Source

The power source may be of any standard form for powering smallelectronic circuit board devices such as the following power cells:alkaline, lithium hydride, lithium ion, lithium polymer, nickel cadmium,solar cells, and/or the like. Other types of AC or DC power sources maybe used as well. In the case of solar cells, in one embodiment, the caseprovides an aperture through which the solar cell may capture photonicenergy. The power cell is connected to at least one of theinterconnected subsequent components of the present invention therebyproviding an electric current to all subsequent components. In oneexample, the power source is connected to the system bus component. Inan alternative embodiment, an outside power source is provided through aconnection across the I/O interface. For example, a USB and/or IEEE 1394connection carries both data and power across the connection and istherefore a suitable source of power.

Interface Adapters

Interface bus(ses) may accept, connect, and/or communicate to a numberof interface adapters, conventionally although not necessarily in theform of adapter cards, such as but not limited to: input outputinterfaces (I/O), storage interfaces, network interfaces, and/or thelike. Optionally, cryptographic processor interfaces similarly may beconnected to the interface bus. The interface bus provides for thecommunications of interface adapters with one another as well as withother components of the computer systemization. Interface adapters areadapted for a compatible interface bus. Interface adaptersconventionally connect to the interface bus via a slot architecture.Conventional slot architectures may be employed, such as, but notlimited to: Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), Card Bus, (Extended)Industry Standard Architecture ((E)ISA) Micro Channel Architecture(MCA), NuBus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (Extended) (PCI(X)), PCIExpress, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association(PCMCIA) and/or the like.

Storage interfaces may accept, communicate and/or connect to a number ofstorage devices such as, but not limited to: storage devices, removabledisc devices, and/or the like. Storage interlaces may employ connectionprotocols such as, but not limited to: (Ultra) (Serial) AdvancedTechnology Attachment (Packet Interface) ((Ultra) (Serial) ATA(PI)),(Enhanced) Integrated Drive Electronics ((E)IDE), Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394, fiber channel, SmallComputer Systems Interface (SCSI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/orthe like.

Network interfaces may accept, communicate, and/or connect to acommunications network. Through a communications network, the controllerof the present invention is accessible through remote clients (e.g.,computers with web browsers) by users. Network interfaces may employconnection protocols such as, but not limited to: direct connect,Ethernet (thick, thin, twisted pair 10/100/1000 Base T, and/or thelike), Token Ring, wireless connection such as IEEE 802.11a-x, and/orthe like. Should processing requirements dictate a greater amount speedand/or capacity, distributed network controllers (e.g., Distributedembodiments of the present invention), architectures may similarly beemployed to pool, load balance, and: or otherwise increase thecommunicative bandwidth required by the controller of the presentinvention. A communications network may be any one and/or thecombination of the following: a direct interconnection; the Internet; aLocal Area Network (LAN); a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN); anOperating Missions as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI); a secured customconnection; a Wide Area Network (WAN); a wireless network (e.g.,employing protocols such as, but not limited to a Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP), I-mode, and/or the like); and/or the like. A networkinterface may be regarded as a specialized form of an input outputinterface. Further, multiple network interfaces may be used to engagewith various communications network types. For example, multiple networkinterfaces may be employed to allow for the communication overbroadcast, multicast, and/or unicast networks.

Input Output interfaces (PO) may accept, communicate, and/or connect touser input devices, peripheral devices, cryptographic processor devices,and/or the like. I/O may employ connection protocols such as, but notlimited to: audio: analog, digital, monaural. RCA, stereo, and/or thelike; data: Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), IEEE 1394a-b serial, universalserial bus (USB); infrared; joystick; keyboard; midi; optical; PC AT;PS/2; parallel; radio; video interface: Apple Desktop Connector (ADC),BNC, coaxial, component, composite, digital, Digital Visual Interface(DVI), high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), RCA, RF antennae,S-Video VGA, and/or the like; wireless transceivers: 802.11a/big/nix;Bluetooth; cellular (e.g., code division multiple access (CDMA), highspeed packet access (HSPA(+)), high-speed downlink packet access(HSDPA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), long termevolution (LTE), WiMax, etc.); and/or the like. One typical outputdevice may include a video display, which typically comprises a CathodeRay Tube (CRT) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) based monitor with aninterface (e.g., DVI circuitry and cable) that accepts signals from avideo interface, may be used. The video interface composites informationgenerated by a computer systemization and generates video signals basedon the composited information in a video memory frame. Another outputdevice is a television set, which accepts signals from a videointerface. Typically, the video interface provides the composited videoinformation through a video connection interface that accepts a videodisplay interface (e.g., an RCA composite video connector accepting anRCA composite video cable; a DVI connector accepting a DVI displaycable, etc.).

User input devices often are a type of peripheral device (see below) andmay include: card readers, dongles, finger print readers, gloves,graphics tablets, joysticks, keyboards, microphones, mouse (mice),remote controls, retina readers, touch screens (e.g., capacitive,resistive, etc.), trackballs, trackpads, sensors (e.g., accelerometers,ambient light, GPS, gyroscopes, proximity, etc.), styluses, and/or thelike.

Peripheral devices and the like may be connected and/or communicate toI/O and/or other facilities of the like such as network interfaces,storage interfaces, directly to the interface bus, system bus, the CPU,and/or the like. Peripheral devices may be external, internal and/orpart of the controller of the present invention. Peripheral devices mayalso include, for example, an antenna, audio devices (e.g., line-in,line-out, microphone input, speakers, etc.), cameras (e.g., still,video, webcam, etc.), drive motors, lighting, video monitors and/or thelike.

Cryptographic units such as, but not limited to, microcontrollers,processors, interfaces, and/or devices may be attached, and/orcommunicate with the controller of the present invention. A MC68HC16microcontroller, manufactured by Motorola Inc., may be used for and/orwithin cryptographic units. The MC68HC16 microcontroller utilizes a16-bit multiply-and-accumulate instruction in the 16 MHz configurationand requires less than one second to perform a 512-bit RSA private keyoperation. Cryptographic units support the authentication ofcommunications from interacting agents, as well as allowing foranonymous transactions. Cryptographic units may also be configured aspart of CPU. Equivalent microcontrollers and/or processors may also beused. Other commercially available specialized cryptographic processorsinclude: the Broadcom's CryptoNetX and other Security Processors;nCipher's nShield, SafeNet's Luna PCI (e.g., 7100) series; SemaphoreCommunications' 40 MHz Roadrunner 184; Sun's Cryptographic Accelerators(e.g., Accelerator 6000 PCIe Board, Accelerator 500 Daughtercard); ViaNano Processor (e.g., L2100, L2200, U2400) line, which is capable ofperforming 500+ MB/s cryptographic instructions; VLSI Technology's 33MHz 6868; and/or the like.

Memory

Generally, any mechanization and/or embodiment allowing a processor toaffect the storage and/or retrieval of information is regarded asmemory. However, memory is a fungible, technology and resource, thus,any number of memory embodiments may be employed in lieu of or inconcert with one another. It is to be understood that the controller ofthe present invention and/or a computer systemization may employ variousforms of memory. For example, a computer systemization may he configuredwherein the functionality of on-chip CPU memory (e.g., registers), RAM,ROM, and any other storage devices are provided by a paper punch tape orpaper punch card mechanism; of course such an embodiment would result inan extremely slow rate of operation. In a typical configuration, memorywill include ROM, RAM, and a storage device. A storage device may be anyconventional computer system storage. Storage devices may include adrum; a (fixed and/or removable) magnetic disk drive; a magneto-opticaldrive; an optical drive (i.e., Blueray, CD ROM/RAM/Recordable(R)/ReWritable (RW), DVD R/RW, HD DVD R/RW etc.); an array of devices(e.g., Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)); solid state memorydevices (USB memory, solid state drives (SSD), etc.); otherprocessor-readable storage mediums; and/or other devices of the like.Thus, a computer systemization generally requires and makes use ofmemory.

Component Collection

The memory may contain a collection of program and/or databasecomponents and/or data such as, but not limited to: operating systemcomponent(s) (operating system); information server components)(information server); user interface component(s) (user interface); Webbrowser component(s) (Web browser); database(s) mail servercomponent(s); mail client component(s); cryptographic servercomponent(s) (cryptographic server) and/or the like (i.e., collectivelya component collection). These components m y be stored and accessedfrom the storage devices and/or from storage devices accessible throughan interface bus. Although non-conventional program components such asthose in the component collection, typically, are stored in a localstorage device, they may also be loaded and/or stored in memory such as:peripheral devices, RAM remote storage facilities through acommunications network, ROM, various forms of memory, and/or the like.

Operating System

The operating system component is an executable program componentfacilitating the operation of the controller of the present invention.Typically, the operating system facilitates access of I/O, networkinterfaces, peripheral devices, storage devices, and/or the like. Theoperating system may be a highly fault tolerant, scalable, and securesystem such as: Apple Macintosh OS X (Server); AT&T Plan 9; Be OS; Unixand Unix-like system distributions (such as AT&T's UNIX; BerkleySoftware Distribution (BSD) variations such as FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD,and/or the like; Linux distributions such as Red Hat, Ubuntu, and/or thelike); and/or the like operating systems. However, more limited and/orless secure operating systems also may be employed such as AppleMacintosh OS, IBM OS/2, Microsoft DOS, Microsoft Windows2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millennium/NT/Vista/XP (Server), Palm OS, and/orthe like. The operating system may be one specifically optimized to berun on a mobile computing device, such as iOS, Android, Windows Phone,Tizen, Symbian, and/or the like. An operating system may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, includingitself, and/or the like. Most frequently, the operating systemcommunicates with other program components, user interfaces, and/or thelike. For example, the operating system may contain, communicate,generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/ordata communications, requests, and/or responses. The operating system,once executed by the CPU, may enable the interaction with communicationsnetworks, data, I/O, peripheral devices, program components, memory,user input devices, and/or the like. The operating system may providecommunications protocols that allow the controller of the presentinvention to communicate with other entities through a communicationsnetwork. Various communication protocols may be used by the controllerof the present invention as a subcarrier transport mechanism forinteraction, such as, but not limited to: multicast, TCP/IP UDP,unicast, and/or the like.

Information Server

An information server component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU. The information server may be a conventional Internetinformation server such as, but not limited to Apache SoftwareFoundation's Apache, Microsoft's Internet Information Server, and/or thelike. The information server may allow for the execution of programcomponents through facilities such as Active Server Page (ASP), ActiveX,(ANSI) (Objective-) C (++), C#and/or .NET, Common Gateway Interface(CGI) scripts, dynamic (D) hypertext markup language (HTML), FLASH,Java, JavaScript Practical Extraction Report Language (PERL), HypertextPre-Processor (PHP), pipes, Python, wireless application protocol (WAP),WebObjects, and/or the like. The information server may support securecommunications protocols such as, but not limited to, File TransferProtocol (FTP), HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP); Secure HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTPS), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), messagingprotocols (e.g., America Online (AOL) Instant Messenger (AIM)ApplicationExchange (APEX), ICQ, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Microsoft Network (MSN)Messenger Service, Presence and Instant Messaging Protocol (PRIM),Internet Engineering Task Force's (IETF's) Session Initiation Protocol(SIP), SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions(SIMPLE), open XML-based Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol(XMPP) (i.e., jabber or Open Mobile Alliance's (OMA's) Instant Messagingand Presence Service (IMPS)), Yahoo! instant Messenger Service, and/orthe like. The information server provides results in the form of Webpages to Web browsers, and allows for the manipulated generation of theWeb pages through interaction with other program components. After aDomain Name System (DNS) resolution portion of an HTTP request isresolved to a particular information server, the information serverresolves requests for information at specified locations on thecontroller of the present invention based on the remainder of the HTTPrequest. For example, a request such ashttp://123.124.125.126/myInformation.html might have the IP portion ofthe request “123.124.125.126” resolved by a DNS server to an informationserver at that IP address; that information server might in turn fartherparse the http request for the “/myInformation.html” portion of therequest and resolve it to a location in memory containing theinformation “myInformation.html.” Additionally, other informationserving protocols may be employed across various ports, e.g., FTPcommunications across port, and/or the like. An information server maycommunicate to and/or with other components in a component collection,including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, theinformation server communicates with the database of the presentinvention, operating systems, other program components, user interfaces,Web browsers, and/or the like.

Access to the database of the present invention may be achieved througha number of database bridge mechanisms such as through scriptinglanguages as enumerated below (e.g., CGI) and through inter-applicationcommunication channels as enumerated below (e.g., CORBA, WebObjects,etc.). Any data requests through a Web browser are parsed through thebridge mechanism into appropriate grammars as required by the presentinvention. In one embodiment, the information server would provide a Webform accessible by a Web browser. Entries made into supplied fields inthe Web form are tagged as having been entered into the particularfields, and parsed as such. The entered terms are then passed along,with the field tags, which act to instruct the parser to generatequeries directed to appropriate tables and/or fields In one embodiment,the parser may generate queries in standard SQL by instantiating asearch string with the proper join/select commands based on the taggedtext entries, wherein the resulting command is provided over the bridgemechanism to the present invention as a query. Upon generating queryresults from the query, the results are passed over the bridgemechanism, and may be parsed for formatting and generation of a newresults Web page by the bridge mechanism. Such a new results Web page isthen provided to the information server, which may supply it to therequesting Web browser.

Also, an information server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain,and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or datacommunications, requests, and/or responses.

User Interface

Computer interfaces in some respects are similar to automobile operationinterfaces. Automobile operation interface elements such as steeringwheels, gearshifts, and speedometers facilitate the access, operation,and display of automobile resources, and status. Computer interactioninterface elements such as check boxes, cursors, menus, scrollers, andwindows (collectively and commonly referred to as widgets) similarlyfacilitate the access, capabilities, operation, and display of data andcomputer hardware and operating system resources, and status. Operationinterfaces are commonly called user interfaces. Graphical userinterfaces (GUIs) such as the Apple Macintosh Operating System's Aqua,IBM's OS/2, Microsoft's Windows 2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millennium/NT/XP,Vista/7 (i.e., Aero), Unix's X-Windows (e.g., which may includeadditional Unix graphic interface libraries and layers such as K DesktopEnvironment (KDE), mythTV and GNU Network Object Model Environment(GNOME)), web interface libraries e.g. ActiveX, AJAX, (D)HTML, FLASH,Java, JavaScript, etc. interface libraries such as, but not limited to,Dojo, jQuery(UI), MooTools Prototype script.aculo.us, SWFObject Yahoo!User Interface, any of which may be used and) provide a baseline andmeans of accessing and displaying information graphically to users.

A user interface component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU. The user interface may be a conventional graphic userinterface as provided by, with, and/or atop operating systems and/oroperating environments such as already discussed. The user interface mayallow for the display execution, interaction, manipulation, and/oroperation of program components and/or system facilities through textualand/or graphical facilities. The user interface provides a facilitythrough which users may affect, interact, and/or operate a computersystem. A user interface may communicate to and/or with other componentsin a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of thelike. Most frequently, the user interface communicates with operatingsystems, other program components, and/or the like. The user interfacemay contain, communicate, generate, obtain and/or provide programcomponent, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/orresponses.

Web Browser

A Web browser component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The Web browser may be a conventional hypertext viewingapplication such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.Secure Web browsing may be supplied with 128 bit (or greater) encryptionby way of HTTPS, SSL, and/or the like. Web browsers allowing for theexecution of program components through facilities such as ActiveX,AJAX, (D)HTML, FLASH, Java, JavaScript, web browser plug-in APIs (e.g.,FireFox, Safari Plug-in, and/or the like APIs), and/or the like. Webbrowsers and like information access tools may be integrated into PDAs,cellular telephones, and/or other mobile devices. A Web browser maycommunicate to and/or with other components in a component collection,including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, theWeb browser communicates with information servers, operating systems,integrated program components (e.g., plug-ins), and/or the like; e.g.,it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide programcomponent, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/orresponses. Of course, in place of a Web browser and information server,a combined application may be developed to perform similar functions ofboth. The combined application would similarly affect the obtaining andthe provision of information to users, user agents, and/or the like fromthe enabled nodes of the present invention. The combined application maybe nugatory on systems employing standard Web browsers.

Mail Server

A mail server component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The mail server may be a conventional Internet mail serversuch as, but not limited to sendmail, Microsoft Exchange, and/or thelike. The mail server may allow for the execution if program componentsthrough facilities such as ASP, ActiveX, (ANSI) (Objective-) C (++), C#and/or .NET, CGI scripts, Java, JavaScript, PERL, PHP, pipes, Python,WebObjects, and/or the like. The mail server may support communicationsprotocols such as, but not limited to: Internet message access protocol(IMAP), Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI)/MicrosoftExchange, post office protocol (POP3), simple mail transfer protocol(SMTP), and/or the like. The mail server can route forward, and processincoming and outgoing mail messages that have been sent, relayed and/orotherwise traversing through and/or to the present invention.

Access to the mail of the present invention may be achieved through anumber of APIs offered by the individual Web server components and/orthe operating system.

Also, a mail server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/orprovide program component, system, user, and/or data communications,requests, information, and/or responses.

Mail Client

A mail client component is a stored program component that is executedby a CPU. The mail client may be a conventional mail viewing applicationsuch as Apple Mail, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Outlook, MicrosoftOutlook Express, Mozilla, Thunderbird, and/or the like. Mail clients maysupport a number of transfer protocols, such as: IMAP, MicrosoftExchange, POP3, SMTP, and/or the like. A mail client may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, includingitself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the mail clientcommunicates with mail servers, operating systems, other mail clients,and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain,and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or datacommunications, requests, information, and/or responses. Generally, themail client provides a facility to compose and transmit electronic mailmessages.

Cryptographic Server

A cryptographic server component is a stored program component that isexecuted by a CPU, cryptographic processor, cryptographic processorinterface, cryptographic processor device, and/or the like.Cryptographic processor interfaces will allow for expedition ofencryption and/or decryption requests by the cryptographic componenthowever, the cryptographic component, alternatively, may run on aconventional CPU. The cryptographic component allows for the encryptionand/or decryption of provided data. The cryptographic component allowsfor both symmetric and asymmetric (e.g., Pretty Good Protection (PGP))encryption and/or decryption. The cryptographic component may employcryptographic techniques such as, but not limited to: digitalcertificates (e.g., X.509 authentication framework), digital signatures,dual signatures, enveloping, password access protection, public keymanagement, and/or the like. The cryptographic component will facilitatenumerous (encryption and/or decryption) security protocols such as, butnot limited to: checksum, Data Encryption Standard (DES), EllipticalCurve Encryption (ECC), International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA),Message Digest 5 (MD5, which is a one way hash function), passwords,Rivest Cipher (RC5), Rijndael, RSA (which is an Internet encryption andauthentication system that uses an algorithm developed in 1977 by RonRivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman), Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA),Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS),and/or the like. Employing such encryption security protocols, thepresent invention may encrypt all incoming and/or outgoingcommunications and may serve as node within a virtual private network(VPN) with a wider communications network. The cryptographic componentfacilitates the process of “security authorization” whereby access to aresource is inhibited by a security protocol wherein the cryptographiccomponent effects authorized access to the secured resource. Inaddition, the cryptographic component may provide unique identifiers ofcontent, e.g., employing and MD5 hash to obtain a unique signature foran digital audio file. A cryptographic component may communicate toand/or with other components in a component collection, including itselfand/or facilities of the like. The cryptographic component supportsencryption schemes allowing for the secure transmission of informationacross a communications network to enable the component of the presentinvention to engage in secure transactions if so desired. Thecryptographic: component facilitates the secure accessing of resourceson the present invention and facilitates the access of secured resourceson remote systems; i.e., it may act as a client and/or server of securedresources. Most frequently, the cryptographic component communicateswith information servers, operating systems, other program components,and/or the like. The cryptographic component may contain, communicate,generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/ordata communications, requests, and/or responses.

A Database of the Present Invention.

The database component of the present invention may be embodied in adatabase and its stored data. The database is a stored programcomponent, which is executed by the CPU; the stored program componentportion configuring the CPU to process the stored data. The database maybe a conventional, fault tolerant, relational, scalable, secure databasesuch as Oracle or Sybase. Relational databases are an extension of aflat file. Relational databases consist of a series of related tables.The tables are interconnected via a key field. Use of the key fieldallows the combination of the tables by indexing against the key field;i.e., the key fields act as dimensional pivot points for combininginformation from various tables. Relationships generally identify linksmaintained between tables by matching primary keys. Primary keysrepresent fields that uniquely identify the rows of a table in arelational database. More precisely, they uniquely identify rows of atable on the “one” side of a one-to-many relationship.

Alternatively, the database of the present invention may be implementedusing various standard data-structures, such as an array, hash. (linked)list, struct, structured text file (e.g., XML), table, and/or the like.Such data-structures may be stored in memory and/or in (structured)files. In another alternative, an object-oriented database may be used,such as Frontier, ObjectStore, Poet, Zope, and/or the like. Objectdatabases can include a number of object collections that are groupedand/or linked together by common attributes; they may be related toother object collections by some common attributes. Object-orienteddatabases perform similarly to relational databases with the exceptionthat objects are not just pieces of data but may have other types offunctionality encapsulated within a given object. If the database of thepresent invention is implemented as a data-structure, the use of thedatabase of the present invention may be integrated into anothercomponent such as the component of the present invention. Also, thedatabase may be implemented as a mix of data structures, objects, andrelational structures. Databases may be consolidated and/or distributedin countless variations through standard data processing techniques.Portions of databases, e.g., tables, may be exported and/or imported andthus decentralized and/or integrated.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s)thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean thatthere are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective“another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one ormore elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to beinclusive such that there may be additional elements other than thelisted elements.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for compressing and decompressing videofiles, comprising: a digital recording device configured to transfer adigital video feed to a computing device; and the computing device, thecomputing device having a graphical user interface, a processor, and acomputer readable non-transitory storage medium for tangibly storingthereon machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructionswhen executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the stepsof: accessing the digital video feed; extracting a series of image filesfrom the digital video feed; organizing a number of image files from theseries of image tiles into a grouping of image files; compressing thegrouping of image files into a singular compressed file; decompressingthe singular compressed file, creating a decompressed file; extractingthe number of image files from the decompressed file; and organizing theextracted number of image files into a playable video file.
 2. Thesystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the machine readable instructionswhen executed by the processor, cause the processor to further performthe steps of: creating a file index database; and organizing the seriesof image files from the digital video feed within the file indexdatabase.
 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computingdevice uses a Lempel-Ziv-Markov chain algorithm 2 (LZMA2) compressionmethod.
 4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical userinterface is configured to enable a user to select a file type for theseries of image files.
 5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein thegraphical user interface is configured to enable a user to edit thedigital video feed using criteria selected from the group consisting of:image quality; image resolution; and frames per second.
 6. The system asrecited in claim 1, wherein the grouping of image files constitutes anumber of images corresponding to approximately five minutes of thedigital video feed.
 7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein themachine readable instructions when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to further perform the step of: archiving the singularcompressed file in a database located on a server.
 8. The system asrecited in claim 7, wherein the server is remote from the computingdevice.
 9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital videofeed is a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) feed.
 10. The system asrecited in claim 1, wherein the machine readable instructions whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to further perform thestep of playing, on the graphical user interface, the playable videofile from the extracted number of image files.
 11. A method forcompressing and decompressing video files, comprising: recording, usinga digital recording device, a digital video feed; transferring thedigital video feed to a server; accessing, using a processor coupled tothe server, the digital video feed; extracting, using the processor, aseries of image files from the digital video feed; organizing a numberof image files from the series of image files into a grouping o imagefiles; compressing, using the processor, the grouping of image filesinto a singular compressed file; decompressing, using the processor, thesingular compressed file, creating a decompressed file; extracting thenumber of image files from the decompressed file; and organizing theextracted number of image files into a playable video file.
 12. Themethod as recited in claim 11, further comprising: creating a file indexdatabase; and organizing the series of image files from the digitalvideo feed within the file index database.
 13. The method as recited inclaim 11, wherein the compressing step includes using aLempel-Ziv-Markov chain algorithm 2 (LZMA2) compression method.
 14. Themethod as recited in claim 11, further comprising: selecting, using agraphical user interface, a file type for the series of image files. 15.The method as recited in claim 11, farther comprising editing, using agraphical user interface, the digital video feed using criteria selectedfrom the group consisting of: image quality; image resolution; andframes per second.
 16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein thegrouping of image files constitutes a number of images corresponding toapproximately five minutes of the digital video feed.
 17. The method asrecited in claim 11, further comprising: archiving the singularcompressed file in a database in a database located on a server.
 18. Themethod as recited in claim 17, wherein the server is remote from acomputing device housing the processor.
 19. The method as recited inclaim 11, wherein the digital video feed is a Real Time StreamingProtocol (RTSP) feed.
 20. The method as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: playing, on a graphical user interface, the playable videofile from the extracted number of image files.